DEADLY DISASTER in Boston! - The Great Molasses Flood of 1919

On January 15, 1919, a massive tank filled with 2.3 million gallons of molasses exploded in Boston's North End, sending a deadly wave of thick molasses through the streets. Molasses is usually known for baking ginger bread and Christmas cookies, but here it is known as The Great Molasses Flood. This bizarre disaster claimed the lives of 21 people, injured over 150, caused unimaginable destruction and is one of America's true horror stories.
In this in-depth video, we explore the forgotten story behind this tragedy, including the flawed construction of the tank, ignored warning signs, the chaotic flood, and the long legal battle that followed. We'll also look at the impact it had on Boston and how the city rebuilt itself after the disaster.
If you're fascinated by strange disasters, historical events, or engineering failures, this short documentary has it all. The Great Molasses Flood is one of the weirdest and least-talked-about catastrophes in American history, but its lessons still resonate today.
🚨 If you are interested in a more in depth deep dive into this historical event, there is a great book on Amazon called: Dark Tide - The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo amzn.to/3XIov7A
IT'S FACINATING!! 🚨
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PHOTOT CREDITS:
-Boston Daily Globe Front Page, In the Boston Public Library, CC BY 2.0
creativecommon...
-Map Diagram/legend
Wikicommons Public Domain
-City of Boston Archives
cityofboston.a...
-Plaque
MLHalsey, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons
-Pixabay
-Unsplash
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#gingerbread #bostonhistory #history #weirdhistory #funfacts #strangehistory #molasses #flood #greatflood #molassesflood #disaster #tragedy #explosion #facinatinghorror #horrorstory #tsunami

[@russell-di8js]

Boston's deadliest disaster? Terrible true, i live in the UK & wasn't the Coconut Grove nightclub in Boston? That fire claimed just short of 500 lives. 1942.

[@newhampshirelifestyle4233]

You are correct, the Coconut Grove fire was worse. Much worse. People suffered more.

[@carlbaltrunas6901]

The molasses disaster *was* the worst in Boston's history, until the Cocoanut Grove fire.

[@billwendell6886]

Word for word from New England's Worst Disasters, a great read if your library can order it.

[@BrianStorey-j5n]

We were in Boston a few years ago..and id Heard about the molassis, disaster,,, suddenly, realized we were on the very street it happened on! I LOVE visiting history, you can just see the photos, and see the NOW, and combine the two... amazing

[@PastUnpacked]

I totally agree! There’s something haunting and mesmerizing about seeing old photos compared to now. Hope your trip was fun, thanks for sharing!

[@BrianStorey-j5n]

It was amazing, thanks

[@carlbaltrunas6901]

What were you doing on Commercial St? The last time I checked, there's nothing interesting to see there.

[@Edgerider69-tx9le]

Loved this..ur right, never heard of this but Awesome story

[@PastUnpacked]

Glad you enjoyed it! The next video coming out is another widely forgotten disaster. Stay tuned…

[@im_sooo_proud_2B_white]

awesome video... done perfect... no wasted time and right to the point ....👍🏼👍🏼🎉🎉

[@PastUnpacked]

Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it

[@Imjustsaying1966]

Why in the world did they think they needed to accumulate that much molasses in one container at one location.

[@PastUnpacked]

Mind blowing, isn’t it…

[@billwendell6886]

Baked beans and Indian Pudding. And rum. Original Durgin Park recipe, highly recommend you try it.

[@JohnnyAngel8]

I enjoyed this video but had a difficult time hearing your voice when other sounds were added.

[@PastUnpacked]

Noted! Thank you for the feedback 👍

[@AndrewC.McPherson-xf5zw]

Ding dong, the flow is ON!!!

[@PastUnpacked]

lol!

[@BrianStorey-j5n]

We were wandering just had done the Duck Tour of the harbor (oh i wanted to go on the Constitution,, i had the model as a kid) but just happened yo be there,, saw a plaque knew the story, but didn't realize, we WERE THERE 😂

[@TheBear470]

You have an incredible voice. You could be auditing my taxes and I would be on cloud nine...

[@PastUnpacked]

After a thorough audit of your taxes, I noticed a significant discrepancy between your income and deductions. A payment of $15,620 is due to the IRS by October 15

[@TheBear470]

​@@PastUnpackedI read that in your voice, so I'm just going to round it up to an even 20k 😌

[@bicivelo]

I was a kid when this happened. It was not good.

[@PastUnpacked]

🤔🤔🤔

[@rmcfete]

The owner was to cheap to use the correct things to erect it. Even though he was warned

[@AndrewC.McPherson-xf5zw]

Rats came from all over to indulge in feast.

[@aregularguy44]

Bet there were a lot of flies as well.

[@AndrewC.McPherson-xf5zw]

I bet, flies stuck on everything.

[@wolfmantiptip6218]

Greed .........

[@PastUnpacked]

Absolutely 💯

[@AndrewC.McPherson-xf5zw]

Blub blub.

[@jeff3638]

Sweet¿

[@carlbaltrunas6901]

@1:05, the word is pronounced "sub SID ee ary", not "sub SID *ery*". Please check correct pronunciations before you record narration?

[@JeffreyHarnden-qw8fs]

I like this documentary but I don’t mean any type of disrespect but what exactly is a molasses I’m hearing this word for the first time. I think when doing a documentary I think people need to describe what certain words mean. Again no disrespect but it would be good to know the meaning of certain words that all narrators say when doing docs

[@PastUnpacked]

No disrespect taken, you actually make a great point! I’m so used to the word it never even crossed my mind that it wasn’t commonly known. It’s a thick dark syrup like substance that is a byproduct of the sugar making process. It’s used in baking a lot…gingerbread cookies have it as an ingredient. Thanks for the feedback, I’ll keep that in mind for future videos!

[@JeffreyHarnden-qw8fs]

@@PastUnpacked thanks for the response I really did enjoy the video. It’s sad that 21 lives were lost. Take care and enjoy your weekend and be safe

[@kristinebailey6554]

@@JeffreyHarnden-qw8fs Molasses originates from sorghum, a very tall grassy plant with seed heads. Molasses makes fantastic cookies, and when mixed with granulated white cane sugar, it becomes what we call brown sugar.

[@JeffreyHarnden-qw8fs]

@@kristinebailey6554 thanks

[@PastUnpacked]

Great explanation, thanks!

[@craigaston]

I'm really not surprised that the justice system deems 21 peoples lives are worth $11m 🫠

[@PastUnpacked]

What’s even sadder is that a lot of that money didn’t even go to the families. Infrastructure repair and legal fees took up a bunch. Thanks for your comment!